DIY Microwave Popcorn: Healthy, Yummy, and CHEAP

Popcorn is a whole grain snack that is really low in calories and has that great crunch we crave. But, the packaged stuff in the supermarket is expensive and can be high in sodium.

How you can makeover packaged popcorn?

You can make popcorn in the microwave without the prepackaged products from the supermarket. All you need is popcorn, lunch bags, tape, and some flavorings.

A box of microwave popcorn sells for at least $3 and you will get 4 servings (I am using Trader Joe's Low Fat popcorn as a comparison.)

Ordinary popcorn is about $1 a pound and you will get about 8 servings. ($6 as versus $1 - you save $5!). You will save a ton of money for just a little work.

But, even if it costs more to pop your own, there is concern about a chemical that is released when microwave popcorn is popped. So, since you didn't add ANYTHING but popcorn, your microwave popcorn is anxiety free!

Here is how you do it:

Put 1/4 cup popcorn in a brown paper bag. Fold top over a few times and tape it.

Place in microwave folded side upfor 2 to 3 minutes or until there is 5 seconds between pops.

What about flavorings? Well, the great thing here is now you aren't stuck with the choices in the packaged microwave popcorn.

In the book, "Popcorn", Patrick Evans-Hylton, writes about all sorts of things you can add including sugar (to make a carmel-corn taste), ginger and wasabi, and even BBQ sauce. His ideas are fantastic and enough to inspire any popcorn aficionado.

Instead of tap, you can use 2 staples placed at least 1 inch apart on the bag. Works great. No sparking from the microwave. Learned this trick from Alton Brown's cookbooks.

Einsmomon September 5, 2009

What is the minimum power output needed to properly heat/pop a bag of popcorn. I live in Prague and my current mw here is apparently too weak as it can't "pop" fast enough, and leaving it for more minutes only results in a black (burned) mucky mess. Thanks. GoodyPrague

GoodyPragueon October 14, 2009

According to Wikipedia, the kernels need to get to 180C (356F) to pop.There is also a wealth of information at www.popcorn.org.

If your microwave won't work, or if you don't have a microwave, youcan pop corn the old fashioned way: in a pan on the stove.

* A 3 to 4 quart pan with a loose lid that allows steam to escape * At least enough popcorn to cover the bottom of the pan, one kernel deep * 1/3 cup of oil for every cup of kernels (Don't use butter!)

Heat the oil to 400 - 460 degrees Fahrenheit (if the oil smokes, it istoo hot). Test the oil on a couple of kernels. When they pop, add therest of the popcorn, cover the pan and shake to evenly spread the oil.When the popping begins to slow, remove the pan from the stove-top.The heated oil will still pop the remaining kernels.

I hope this is helpful.

Snack Snoop Lisaon October 14, 2009

Funny thing...you don't need any oil for stove top popcorn. I've been popping my popcorn this way for a couple years now. You do it the same exact way..just skipping the oil step.

RossSon November 1, 2009

Thanks for this tip. I have been wanting to pop plain popcorn for a while but wasn't sure how to do it the easy way. This is def. easy. :)

I have a Back To Basics microwave popper that can be used with or without oil. I use it without oil and it comes out great. Sometimes I'll drizzle some olive oil (about a teaspoon) on it after popping. You can also use an olive oil mister to spray just a bit of oil on it to get salt to stick to it. I also like to drizzle maple syrup (about 2 teaspoons) and then sprinkle with some sea salt. This is just like kettle corn! Old Bay seasoning is also yummy!

Candiceon April 22, 2010

This is awesome! I love popcorn, but don't always feel like popping it on the stove and microwave popcorn can get to be quite pricey. Thanks for posting this!

This is a great idea! I hadn't been out to the movies for a REALLY long time, but over the weekend my husband and I left our son with the in-laws and went out for dinner and a movie. We ordered a small popcorn with no butter at the theater then we saw something new they had all these different seasonings you could add to your popcorn! We thought it was super cool we go the garlic parmesian seasoning... I can't remember what the other options were but that would be a cool thing to add to your homemade microwave popcorn...

stephvon April 22, 2010

What an easy way to do it. I'm going to try some wasabi flavored popcorn tonight.

I bought an air popper because I thought it would be healthier but the popcorn wasn't as good as microwave variety. I have all the popcorn I bought (and I tried so many kinds - even Black Jewel) and was ready to give them away.

Thanks to you, I will be eating my own microwave popcorn! How great is that! Thanks for the info, Snack Girl! I sure do love your site...